Arsonist jailed following Northampton flat fire
Police say he put the lives of his fellow residents at risk by his 'dangerous and reckless' actions
A man, who deliberately set his home on fire in Northampton last summer, has been jailed for more than two years.
31 year old Brandon Rolfe set a fire at his flat in Emerald Way on the 7th of July 2025. At around 5:30pm a resident at the block saw large plumes of smoke billowing from Rolfe’s address and as he rushed past her, she shouted to him that his flat was on fire. To which he answered, “yeah I know.”
Rolfe walked off towards Black Lion Hill and was arrested the same day in Auctioneers Court on suspicion of deliberately starting the fire.
He was charged after fire investigators concluded that the most probable cause was deliberate ignition on the floor next to the washing machine and the smoke detector had also been removed.
Rolfe pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. He was handed a jail sentence of two years and four months.
Detective Constable Katie Ryder, of CID West, who led the investigation said: “Brandon Rolfe put the lives of his fellow residents at risk by his dangerous and reckless actions. When he fled his home after starting the fire, he had no consideration for who else was in the block of flats.
“It was only through sheer luck that the fire was spotted by another resident who raised the alarm. If it wasn’t for their quick actions this incident could have had a very different outcome.
“I hope Rolfe’s conviction reassures the community that we will take action against anyone who recklessly puts others in danger.”